The jump proves harder than anything my mentors had me go through all night so far. Well, of course it is harder. It is, in a way, the culmination of all our efforts so far after all. Everything else was just preparation for this moment.

In the end it is no big surprise that it takes me several attempts to get even the most basic variation right. Thankfully the trio of adventurers is quite patient with me. Whenever I fall, and I stumble and fall quite often at first, they help me back up, until I at long last manage to stand the landing after the jump for the first time.

Figuring out when to tense up or relax does not come quite as natural to me as it probably does to any of the adventurers. My recently upgraded dancing skill helps a little though.

I still feel a little out of my depth anyway. I am after all not an adventurer. Gods and goddesses, I must be crazy to just think about doing this for real! I'm just an alchemist, enchanter and shopkeeper after all, not an adventurer!

Still, I can't deny that I like how my heart beats faster, when our combined efforts send me soaring through the air. And that feeling of accomplishment when I don't go tumbling through the grass for the first time afterwards is pretty nice too!

I could get used to this feeling. Well, maybe.

We are far from done though. After that first successful jump follow many more until I can stick the landing more often than not. And then, as promised, we move on to the more challenging variations.

As we finally move on to the final variation, where Feliks empowers himself with the spirit of the bull, I come to realize something important.

It isn't that I could come to like this. I'm actually liking this! I'm even beginning to truly and genuinely look forward to the actual dance and the actual jump over the wild Auroch. It sounds crazy, even in my own ears, but it's the truth.

Of course I don't manage to stick the landing of this most difficult yet jump on my first try. I don't sprain or break anything either though, although I'm a little afraid of the possibility as Feliks sends me soaring over himself, as I push off.

Instead of actually ending up in an undignified heap in the grass, I manage to roll properly and come back up on my feet. It is a feat of acrobatics I would have thought impossible just the other day. By now it comes quite natural though. Who knows, maybe I'll even unlock the acrobatics skill in addition to the dancing skill? It certainly would be nice!

Aynway, I come right back to my feet after the roll and with just a few more steps I'm facing the young monk again.

He seems pleased by this result, despite the fact that I missed the landing. The very next moment, without missing a beat, he charges my way again and I respond in kind.

Again and again we repeat the charge and the jump until I finally manage to pull it off without a hitch. And then, for good measure, we do it again until my legs ache and my feet can barely carry me anymore.

At long last Rafal calls a stop and we have another break. Together we catch our breath again and have the last of the wine.

I'm exhausted. There is no doubt about that. Not even a short break will change that. At the same time I'm quite happy though.

As my head hits the grass, after I sip the last of my wine, the divine whisper I have been hoping for tickles my mind.

[Under the tutelage of others you have acquired the Acrobatics skill at apprentice level. The Moon Father is your witness and gifts you 3 points for The Sword Arcana as a reward.]

“Yes!”

I weakly pump my fist before closing my eyes, just for a moment.

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“Congratulations once again!”

I crack my eyes open again and look over at the monk and the warrior who are congratulating each other as well as me.

Of course. Rewards like this often go both ways. It is only fair. Probably? After all, Rafal received a similar reward just the other night.

The divine reward gets me thinking. This is the second time I received Karma for The Sword Arcana. Including this reward I should have enough points saved up for a meaningful investment. I'm not quite sure what that might be though, as I'm not terribly familiar with this specific Arcana.

I could of course ask at the temple or inquire directly with the divine. Instead I decide to ask the trio with me first though.

“The Sword Arcana? What kind of gifts and skills are associated with it?”

The three look at each other briefly and give the question some thought before answering in turn, starting with Feliks and ending with Rafal.

“You can improve your acrobatics skill using Karma from this particular Arcana. It might be the best use right now, considering your short term goals.”

“Another skill associated with it is the athletics skill. The various combat related skills are governed by this Arcana as well, but I'd say that they are probably of lesser interest to you.”

“One of the gifts it can grant you is the Resolute Aura. It improves your willpower, as well as that of any allies or friends nearby. It is pretty good for adventurers. For shopkeepers it can be a double edged sword though. While it would improve your resistance to haggling it would in all likelihood do the same for most customers. Unless, of course, it is someone you really dislike.”

I let that sink in for a while.

“So it probably would be best to improve my acrobatics first?”

The three answer in unison this time, without hesitation, which sounds a little weird.

“Yes.”

Rafal follows up with a little more detail.

“You shouldn't be in too much of a hurry though. Take a little time to think about it. Wait and see if you'll earn any more Karma in the days to come. It still is a while until midsummer night after all.”

At this point Lotar takes over.

“We only hurried this initial training to make sure you were on a good path.”

And Feliks finishes for the trio.

“This on the other hand means that you should keep working on these skills. If you want we can have another training session, or two, before the dance to make sure you don't get rusty or complacent.”

I groan at the suggestion, but grin and nod in the end anyway.

“Fine, lets have another training session or two. Not right now though and not right before the dance either. I think I need some sleep and some time for my poor aching muscles to recover.”

The three laugh out loud.

Feliks explains before I have a chance to ask what's so funny about my statement.

“Spoken like a true scholar from a institution of higher learning. You aren't exactly wrong though. Make sure you are rested up before the dance. If you happen to know a recipe for a potion that can boost your stamina throughout the night, don't hesitate to use it either. With at least one of the fair folk in attendance you should make good use of every edge you can get.”

Lotar the warrior snorts in amusement.

“Yes, there is no such thing as a fair competition if the fair folk gets involved. That is doubly true if it is their nobility.”

My brows furrow as a thought strikes me.

“Damn!”

Rafal is the one to ask the inevitable question while the other two just shoot each other looks I can't quite interpret.

“What?”

I sigh long and hard before I answer.

“I should have asked Agnieszka to get me a nice pair of sandals for the festival in Barter Town. I could have double enchanted those too, to make myself a nice pair of dancing shoes!”

The trio laughs out loud again, before they start talking almost at the same time.

“That's the spirit!”

“Don't worry you still have some time.”

“Yeah, I'm pretty sure your neighbor will make at least one more trip to the city before midsummer. Two or three more likely.”

At long last we get back on our feet and gather up our belongings, to head back to the village.

On one hand I'm glad that I'll actually still get some sleep tonight. On the other hand I'm a little disappointed that I will not have a chance to earn another reward tonight.

I might just be getting a little spoiled in that regard.

At least I won't have to worry about upsetting Sour Cream again. Somehow that is quite important. The thought alone is enough to add a little additional spring to my steps, despite my aching muscles and the general exhaustion.